Mohammed T., 2

Two-year-old Mohammed Tijjani is the fifth of six children and lives with his parents and siblings in a rented apartment. Both parents are primary school teachers, earning about ₦15,000 each monthly. Their combined income must cover rent, food, school expenses, and other household needs. The family also has no electricity at home, making their living conditions challenging. Mohammed presented with one week of fever, marked yellowing of the eyes and skin, body weakness, poor feeding, frequent watery stools, and progressive weight loss. His mother reported recurrent jaundice since birth, with two previous admissions for neonatal jaundice at UMTH, Maiduguri. On both occasions, financial difficulties prevented the family from completing treatment. Mohammed has never received a blood transfusion and had no history of convulsions. He requires further medical evaluation and appropriate treatment.

With prompt treatment including antimalarials, antibiotics, rehydration, and nutritional rehabilitation, Mohammed is expected to recover from the acute fever, diarrhea, and malnutrition, gain weight, and become more active. However, because he has had recurrent jaundice since birth with hepatosplenomegaly, he will require further specialist investigations at UMTH to determine the underlying cause of his liver condition. With continued nutritional support, malaria prevention, and follow-up care, he has a good chance of improved growth and quality of life. If left untreated, the untreated malaria, diarrhea, and severe malnutrition could lead to progressive liver damage, recurrent infections, growth failure, and potentially life-threatening complications.